Seniors Eric Gallbreath (21) and Trey Quartlebaum (15) defend a shot in the fourth quarter of a game against Olathe Northwest on February 18, 2019 at Lawrence High School.

The only way Olathe Northwest thought it could limit the high-octane Lions’ offense was by dribbling the ball out throughout the first quarter, limiting possessions to score when it could.

As an Olathe Northwest player dribbled the ball around at the top of the key with under a minute to go, the Lawrence High student section shouted out a “boo” as time expired, and the Ravens led 6-5 after one quarter Monday night at LHS.

In the end, however, Lawrence (No. 5 in 6A) ignored the slow-game tactics to take down Olathe Northwest, 57-40. With the win, the Lions (17-3, 10-2 Sunflower League) clinched a share of the Sunflower League title and will battle Olathe South on Thursday for a win outright.

“We knew going in, Olathe Northwest would want to slow the game down, really delay things and limit our possessions, and I was honestly concerned with how our guys would handle that,” LHS coach Mike Lewis said. “That can be a frustrating situation, and I felt like our coaching staff prepared our guys for that mentally.”

Both teams took a combined 12 shots in the opening period.

The Lions then responded with an explosive 25-point second quarter, in which they would shoot 9-of-13 as a team. Each of the Lions’ starting five netted points in the second quarter, with senior Brett Chapple scoring 2 from the field and 2 from a the line, and senior Eric Galbreath making a key free throw, as well.

Zeke Mayo and Trey Quartlebaum combined for four 3-pointers, with Quartlebaum hitting a beyond half-court shot at the buzzer to give the Lions a 15-point halftime lead.

“I think our guys handled the first round of that,” Lewis said. “As we were able to score and get up a few points, it changed the game.”

Clarence King would go on to net five straight baskets into the third quarter without a miss, to go on and lead the game with 17 points.

The Lions defeat the Ravens on senior night with a roster loaded with returning talent that has given LHS much to talk about the last four years.

Bryant Graham and Garrett Hart each saw the floor for most of the second half. Savonni Shazor, who has missed the season since an injury in the Lions’ first game, was honored in the senior night introductions.

“They’ve been reliable, they’ve been steady, they’ve been coachable,” Lewis said. “They haven’t been perfect, but nobody’s perfect. They’ve just been a very good group to me, personally and as a teammate, they’ve really blossomed from their early years to really understand what a teammate is.”

Lawrence will travel to face Olathe South at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Olathe Northwest (40)

Dee Goree 2-8 4-5 8; John Lindsey 1-4 2-2 4; Chase Franks 0-3 0-0 0; Christian Carlstedt 3-5 0-0 6; Chris Martinez 1-1 0-0 2; Zaid Dajani 1-3 0-0 2; Sam Suprnaut 3-10 0-0 7; Ethan Kemp 1-2 0-0 2; Tyler Kincade 1-1 0-0 2; Brady Robinson 3-3 0-0 7. Totals: 16-40 6-7 40.

Lawrence (57)

Zeke Mayo 3-6 0-0 8; Clarence King 8-12 1-2 17; Brett Chapple 2-6 2-2 6; Trey Quartlebaum 5-8 1-2 14; Mayson Quartlebaum 2-5 0-1 4; Willie Dotson 2-4 0-0 5; Eric Galbreath 0-1 1-2 1; Bryce Johnson 1-2 0-0 2; Bryant Graham 0-1 0-0 0; Garrett Hart 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-45 5-9 57.

Olathe Northwest 6 9 9 16 – 40

Lawrence 5 25 13 14 – 57

3-point goals: Olathe Northwest: 2-11 (Suprnaut, Robinson); Lawrence: 6-15 (T. Quartlebaum 3, Mayo 2, Dotson). Turnovers: Olathe Northwest 9, Lawrence 6. Fouled Out: None.